“My eyes meet hers. She is wearing a simple off-white chiffon churidar and she is looking ethereal. The dupatta is veiled her entire head and face like a hijab (a head covering worn in public by some Muslim women). Only her eyes are visible. Those kohl eyes surrounded by long lashes stare at me for a while and then get fixed on the Magistrate. She has come in disguise. My sin has forced her to hide her identity. The thought churns my heart. The Magistrate nods in positive and gestures her to sit. Vivek Basu’s face is emotionless. It seems that though he was expecting her daughter he is not happy to see her at the court. Nandana nears the table and gently occupies the vacant seat. Slowly she unveils her face and head. I am gazing at her, mesmerised. Her eyes are red and swollen. Perhaps she has cried a lot. My brows furrow in a query. I can see she is in pain. She is still battling with her mind and heart and all these happened because of me. Suddenly, something is torn inside my head and I chide before she can say anything.”

“Why her witness is required when I accepted my crime? I repeat…I kidnapped her, I married her keeping her in dark, I took her advantage as a husband and I molested and physically abused her to the extent that she had to leave my house. There is no confusion in it.”

Aditya sounds restless as he wants this courtroom drama to be over as soon as possible so that his Angel doesn’t have to bear this agony for a long. Aditya’s lawyer Raman Sundaram immediately intervenes,

“Sir, my client is not in his full sense as you can see, he has a head injury. Since last night, he is hallucinating and maundering. I plead for bail as he is unwell.”

Aditya doesn’t pay any heed to his words and looks straight to the Magistrate. His eyes have the determination or to some extent, obstinance.

“Sir, do you think I am telling all these because of any head injury? I am as healthy and conscious as I used to be. My every word is true. I…”

But this time his words get interrupted by Nandana’s firm voice,

“He may be in his full sense but he is lying. He didn’t do anything to me whatever the list he gave. I met him at that time when I lost my memory. He gave me shelter and food. He even saved my life by donating his blood. Gradually, we fell in love and he married me. Whatever relationship we had was totally consensual. He never forced himself on me. However, I gained my lost memory and was unable to recognise him as my husband. I tried to leave his house. That time he tried to stop me and unfortunately, I slipped from the staircase and got hurt. When I reached home my father Mr Vivek Basu became shocked to see me as I was missing for 4 months. I was confused and was not being able to figure out what was happening to me. In this confusion, I filed this case against my husband. My decision hurt him a lot. He surrendered and admitted all the allegations which were baseless. He did it because he loves me and can’t see me in pain. But gradually, my mental condition became stable and I realised my mistake. He is innocent. He is lying just to prove me right. I am sorry, Sir. I want to withdraw this case. I have no complaint against my husband. I am sorry to waste the valuable time of the honourable court. But my mental condition was not well. This is my medical report. It proves that not Mr Aditya Oberoi rather I was mentally ill.”

Nandana takes a deep breath after finishing her statement in one go. A pin-drop silence engulfs the room. Everybody is so stunned and scandalised that they even forget to take a breath. Only then, Aditya breaks the dead silence,

“It’s a lie! What nonsense are you talking about, Nandana? You know very well that it is an utter lie. You just want me to save. Why? Why are you doing this to yourself?”

Nandana turns at him with determined eyes. She meets Aditya’s pleading eyes and addresses the Magistrate with full conviction,

“I already gave my witness, Sir. I think now he can be acquitted from every charge.”

Aditya again tries to cut her words but lawyer Raman takes the charge,

“Sir, now it is clear that Mr Aditya Oberoi is innocent. His wife, Mrs Nandana Oberoi herself has withdrawn her case. So, I think now, it’s not a hearing of bail. My client should be acquitted and declared not guilty.”

Basu’s lawyer Mr Bakshi tries to say something but Vivek Basu refrains him by placing his hand on his shoulder. The Magistrate nods in positive and picks up the pen to write on the case paper. Aditya is still restlessly moving his eyes between Nandana and the Magistrate. He is still in shock. On the other hand, Nandana’s expression is stone-hard. She is sitting like a statue just waiting for the verdict. After 5 to 10 minutes, the Magistrate signs the papers and places the final verdict,

“I heard both the party’s witness and charges. Initially, this case seemed a clear case of fraud, kidnapping, domestic violence, physical and mental abuse as Aditya Oberoi initially admitted all the charges put on him by Nandana Basu. However, she has lifted all her charges and stated that she was not in her proper mental condition. In her justification, she has submitted her medical report too which confirms her claims. In that case, this court can’t accuse Mr Aditya Oberoi of any case that was previously filed against him. This hearing was for the bail of the accused. However, the petitioner herself withdrew the case. Under these circumstances, this case doesn’t need any bail approval or rejection rather this court dismissed all the allegations against Aditya Oberoi and acquitted him of every charge. This court also warns Mrs Nandana Oberoi for wasting the valuable time of the court. I hope you both will sort out your issues and lead a happy and healthy married life. The court is adjourned.”

The Magistrate gets up from his chair as well as all the other people . Vivek heads to the exit door without even glancing at his daughter. Nandana looks at his dispersing frame and mumbles under her breath,

“You told me to follow my heart, Papa. I only did it.”

Lawyer Raman Sundaram shakes his hand with Aditya and congratulates him. However, Aditya’s entire concentration is on Nandana. He has to talk to her. She turned against her family. How will she mend this damage? If they deny accepting her as their daughter. If they disown her. Where will she go? All these questions are hammering his head. He turns at Mr Sundaram and says,

“You, please meet Ayan. I will talk to you later.”

As Aditya tries to approach Nandana, she bails out of the courtroom. She doesn’t know where to go? She doesn’t know if her Papa will forgive her ever. Aditya follows her like a storm.

“Nandana, listen….Nandana…Angel…”

He calls her fanatically and rushes after her. However, Nandana is slowly fading away from his sight. The reporter and the mob are trying to rush to Aditya but the police stop them. SP Bhosle was observing Aditya and Nandana from a distance. Now, he nears Nandana and says,

“Mrs Oberoi, I think you should at least talk to him. Otherwise, the media will speculate negatively and it won’t be good for both of you.”

Nandana halts for a second. Her eyes are shining through her hijab. Meanwhile, Aditya minimizes the distance and eventually reaches Nandana.

“Nandana….please listen to me.”

He pants and utters through his surging breath. SP Bhosle looks at both of them and says,

“Try to exit this court premises as soon as possible. The police won’t be able to stop the crowd for long.”

Saying this he steps back, giving the couple some space to talk. However, his vigilant eyes look around to surveillant any mischief. Aditya saunters at Nandana and mouths with a concerned tone,

“Why did you do this, Nandana? Why did you take all blame on yourself? Your Papa your family will never accept it. What if they disown you?”

“Don’t worry! I won’t return to you and be a burden. That is my problem and I will handle it. And about my statement and withdrawal from my case….well, I don’t want to ruin anyone’s life. Your close ones believe that you have changed. Once a brute became a human being. This punishment would have killed that budding humanity. I can’t let this happen.”

Nandana replies without meeting his eyes. Aditya keeps mum for a while and utters with a grave tone,

“But this human being can turn to a brute again without his angel. Without his angel’s love, this brute doesn’t want this freedom. Tell me Nandana, you have forgiven me…tell me that you love me.”

Without turning her face, Nandana replies with a trembling voice,

“I have forgiven you but I don’t love you. We are strangers again with memories.”

Some silent moments engulf the surrounding. Then Aditya asks again,

“Can you say this to me looking into my eyes, Angel? Because your trembling tongue is not supporting your words. I want to see your eyes because eyes never lie.”

Nandana grips the sides of her churidar and closes her eyes. How many tests does she have to give to deny this insidious love? She prays to God. Mustering her courage, she turns to Aditya. Her eyes are arctic. Slowly she uncurtains her face from the dupatta and mouths in a composed voice,

“Yes, Mr Aditya Oberoi; I don’t love you. I don’t hate you either. Because you are a stranger to me and we don’t keep any emotion for a stranger. I am not an Angel and you are not my Brute. Believe my words. You can even look into my eyes. They have nothing for you and according to your belief, eyes don’t lie. Hope you will try to be a better person in your upcoming life. I wish you all the best. Goodbye forever. I hope we will never cross paths again.”

Nandana’s every word jabs his heart again and again. Aditya keeps looking into her ocean-deep eyes for a long time and trying to find a single sign of a lie. His eyes become moist. He parts his lips to say something when a deafening gunshot is heard. SP Bhosle screams,

“WATCH OUT….!”